FOOD. 51 



anything in the shape of a % which presents itself. On 

 Caledonia creek an angler with only a few general flies 

 would make a very poor catch. The Trout there depend 

 chiefly on flies for food and learn to be discriminating. On 

 the Long Island streams where they feed chiefly on salt 

 water fish and to take flies only as occasional delicacies, 

 they may very easily be deluded. 



As to the quantity of food necessary for a given number 

 of Trout. This is diflicult to give exactly as it will vary 

 with the size of the fish and the season of the year, more 

 being required in moderate weather than when it is very 

 hot or very cold. For one thousand three year old, about 

 five pounds of light or liver per day; for two year old three 

 pounds ; but a very little trial will show just how much to 

 feed them. Feeding once each day will keep the Trout 

 over one year old in good condition. Feed slowly, and as 

 soon as they begin to refuse the food stop feeding them, 

 then you have the measure and feed a little less than, this 

 quantity ever^^ day. We say a little less because we have 

 known cases in which owners of ponds being over anxious 

 to fatten their Trout, have killed them by over-feeding. 

 Still this does not often happen, especially if they are fed 

 regularly. A Trout after long abstinence will gorge him- 

 self to repletion ; but will not kill himself to-day if he is 

 reasonably sure of to-morrow's dinner. All animals ap- 

 pear to be wiser than men, and it is very seldom that they 

 will eat enough to do them injury no matter how much 

 may be given them. 



The Trout will get bo tame after a time that they will 

 take the food out of your fingers, in fact they will take the 

 fingers too. Their teeth are sharp and make scratches 

 like needles. They may be taught to jump for their food 

 by holding it a short distance above the water, or may be 

 made to come up and take it out of the pan you are hold- 

 ing. Feed in the middle of the day when the sun is welJ 



